Marine vessel



Feb. 8, 1944. J,- BQUCEK 2,341,077

MARINE VESSEL Filed Oct. I4, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lazventar Jam Bozocek Z By awn Wm; E

Filed Oct. 14, l942 J; BOUCEK MARINE VESSEL 3 Sheets Sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1944. J. BOUCEK 'MARINE VESSEL Filed Oct. 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 78 /72 Baa/c e/r/ Inventor Patented Feb. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VESSEL Jan Boucek, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 14, 1942, Serial No. 462,018

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in marine vessels and more particularly to a marine vessel having a revolving hull.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a powered marine vessel in the form of a large paddle wheel in which is suspended suitable passenger compartments and accommodiations for various equipment that must necessarily remain on a given plane.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevational view of the vessel.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 generally refers to a hull construction which includes an annular keel structure 6 of triangular cross section and provided at its outermost edge portion with a circumferentially extending flange 1. This keel structure 6 has a plurality of obliquely disposed driving fins 8 protruding therefrom.

Frusto-conical shaped shells 9 protrude outwardly from the keel structure 6 and terminate in cylindrical shaped vestibules l0, I0 at the inner ends of which are circumferentially disposed guard flanges for causing water from the shells 9 to gutter off before riding over vestibules.-

The vestibules I0 may each have hinged doors 12 in which are port holes and Windows 13. It is also preferable that the circumferential portion of the vestibules 10 be also provided with port holes and windows [4. At each of the vestibules I0 is a steering wheel for steering a suitable rudder or the like (not shown).

Mounted at the intermediate interior portion of each of the shells 9 is a circular track 16 suitably secured as at ll to the corresponding shell. Inside of the keel structure 6 are larger annular tracks l8, l8 positively secured by suitable connectors [9 to the keel structure 6.

Located within the space between the tracks l8, I8 is a cage structure 20 having upper, lower and intermediate decks 2|, 22 and 23 for carrying passengers and various equipment.

On the deck 22 is a power plant 24 driving a shaft 25 which at its ends has sprocket wheels driving chains 26, 26, which, in turn, drive wheels 21, 21 located under the platform 22 on the cage 20, these wheels 21, 21 engaging the tracks I8, l8. It can also be seen in Figure 3, that there are a number of idler wheels 21a, which also ride the tracks l8 and properly space the cage 20 from the tracks.

On the deck 23 is a power plant 28 driving a shaft 29 which, 'in turn, has sprocket wheels driving sprocket chains 30, 30. These chains operate on sprocket wheels on countershafts 3| and on these counter-shafts 3| are wheels 32 which ride the first-mentioned tracks 16.

It can now be seen, that in the operation of the vessel, the structure 6, 1, 8, 9 and I0 rotate while the cage 20 with its decks 2|, 22 and 23 remain stationary relative to the hull structure. The hull structure is driven by the wheels 21 and 32 acting on the tracks [8 and I6, and obviously any suitable form of steering means may be resorted to in order to properly control the vessel.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A marine vessel comprising an annular keel of triangular cross-section providing converging side walls thereon, a pair of frontal conical sheels outstanding from opposite sides of the keel, respectively, and inclining from the side edges of said keel at the same angle as the sides of the keel, said shells forming with said keel a hull for rotation in the water, said'shells having annular entrance vestibules at the outer sides thereof provided with side closures, a pair of annular tracks fixed in said keel at opposite sides thereof, respectively, a pair of annular tracks fixed in said shells, respectively, between the first-mentioned tracks and said vestibules, a cage structure within said keel mounted on the firstmentioned tracks to run thereon, and drive means between said cage and the second-mentioned pair of tracks.

JAN BOUCEK. 

